Emma Shortall reviews the year’s most anticipated musical and how all those who see it will be ‘defying gravity’ after the credits roll
What is this feeling? So sudden and new? I’ll tell you; it is the feeling of sheer bliss after seeing Wicked (2024). The long running Broadway stage musical has finally been adapted for the silver screen after 20 years with director Jon M. Chu at the helm and stars none other than Tony winner Cynthia Erivo and Grammy winner Ariana Grande as the two leads. The story is a precursor to the events of The Wizard of Oz (1939) and follows the story of how Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) came to be. What starts out as unadulterated loathing eventually becomes a friendship and something that changes both women for good. The marketing for the film would have you forget that this is part 1 of the overall story, even with a runtime of two hours and forty minutes. Despite the words ‘To Be Continued’ appearing on screen following the jaw dropping musical sequence of “Defying Gravity”, the film felt complete, rounded and satisfying while simultaneously making audiences excited for what's to come in part 2.
As any theatre kid will tell you, the songs are the backbone of any successful musical and the songs written initially for the stage by Stephen Schwartz make this musical tower over the rest. Having directed exciting and sprawling dance sequences in films like In the Heights (2021), Chu makes each musical number from “Dancing Through Life” to “One Short Day” bold and engaging. However, it isn't all spectacle. Chu never forgets to include the more intimate character moments which gives the film more depth, coupled with the brilliant decision to have the actors perform the songs live while filming. The real showstopper is “Defying Gravity” which is a true achievement when it comes to musical filmmaking. From Chu’s direction to Erivo’s performance, the crucial turning point in the story does not disappoint in the slightest.
The performances across the board are all stellar. Erivo does a phenomenal job as Elphaba and manages to tug on the audience’s heartstrings on many occasions throughout the film with utter grace and an angelic voice. Jonathan Bailey as the charismatic and dashing Fiyero takes a seemingly surface level prince character and conveys a suppressed unhappiness and conflict that Elphaba manages to bring out of him. Other notable performances include Academy Award Winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, who has an unforgettable entrance, and Jeff Goldblum as the revered Wizard of Oz who Elphaba has idolised for almost her entire life. The true scene stealer, however, is Grande. Her comedic timing as Glinda is impeccable, and she manages to make an initially shallow and self-obsessed character engaging to audiences. The friendship that develops between Elphaba and Glinda is the driving force of this film and both Erivo and Grande sell it astonishingly well.
Across all of the departments involved in Wicked, this film is as close to perfect as a musical adaptation can get. Alice Brooks’ cinematography and Nathan Crowley’s production design immerse the audience in the world of Oz, creating unforgettable spectacle for the entirety of the run time. Crowley manages to pay homage to the stage show, from Elphaba and Glinda’s dormitory to the Emerald City, while doubling down on size and scope to make this story worthy of the big screen. The costumes courtesy of Paul Tazewell act as wonderful extensions of the characters; Glinda’s pink attires and Madame Morrible’s mystic robes in particular pop on screen. While a large amount of the set pieces in this film are practical, the visual effects aid in executing the magic that exists in Oz and bring other characters like Doctor Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) to life. Occasionally, the visual effects that build Oz can feel somewhat overused and might alienate the average viewer.
This is a cinematic experience that will more than please fans of the stage show and perhaps more importantly, people who are experiencing the story and songs for the first time who are sure to come out of the cinema on air and indeed defying gravity.